Dream Stage Entertainment has announced the first two official bouts for the PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix to begin on June 4th.

Recent signee Gegard Mousasi will take on Olympic judo Gold medallist Makoto Takimoto. The Armenian Mousasi fights out of Holland's Jurojin Gym, and was reportedly signed by Dream Stage Entertainment last month. He has impressed in DEEP, and recently dispatched Kingdom Ehrgeiz leader Hidetaka Irie at DEEP 24th Impact with potent strikes from the mount. Takimoto was one of the first three confirmed fighters to participate in the Grand Prix, and will look to find success at 83 kilograms.

Another one of the first three competitors announced for the Grand Prix was Ryo "Piranha" Chonan, who won the DEEP Middleweight Championship from R-BLOOD leader Ryuta Sakurai in February. Chonan has been knocked out in his last two Bushido appearances, and will look to find victory this time around. His goal however, is daunting, as he will face King of the Cage Middleweight Champion Joey "The Dreamsmasher" Villasenor. Fighting out of Jackson's Gaidojitsu in New Mexico, Villasenor has won his last fifteen fights and is undefeated in three and a half years. Villasenor made his Japanese debut at DEEP 24th Impact in April, defeated Yuya Shirai by unanimous decision. While many disparaged Villasenor's performance, it was later revealed that Villasenor fought the bought with multiple fractures in his hand. With his hand healed, Villasenor will hope to better impress the Japanese fans this time around.

Dream Stage Entertainment also released ten more official fighters for the Grand Prix, including recent signee Hector Lombard.